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2008 Speakers

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  • Melissa Abbott

    Senior Trendspotter and Analyst

    The Hartman Group, Inc.

  • Alexis Abramson

    Vice President of Research, “Lifestyle Gerontologist”

    Retirement Living TV

  • Gretchen Addi

    Location Lead

    IDEO

  • Jess Aguirre

    Senior Vice President, Research

    Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movie Channel

  • Majd Alwan

    Director

    Center for Aging Services Technologies

  • June Amori

    Vice President, Strategy and Marketing Communications

    Prudential Annuities

  • Corinne Asturias

    Boomers Consumer Strategist

    Iconoculture

  • Bill Bass

    Co-Founder and CEO

    Fair Indigo

  • Graceann Bennett

    Managing Partner, Director of Strategic Planning

    Ogilvy Chicago

  • Andrew Bienkowski

    Vice-President of Global Brands

    Kimberly-Clark

  • Lori Bitter

    President

    JWT Boom

  • Jonathan Boehman

    Creative Director & Partner

    Immersion Active

  • Jim Bremer

    Vice President, Futures Team

    Hasbro Games

  • Geoff Brooks

    National Director of Premier & Retirement Strategy, Senior Vice President

    HSBC Bank USA

  • Linda Caliri

    Vice President, Marketing

    AARP Financial

  • Mike Caprio

    VP of Sales, New Business Development

    Visible World

  • Chiqui Cartagena

    Managing Director, Integrated Marketing

    Meredith Hispanic Ventures

  • Terry Clark

    Chief Marketing Officer – Enterprise Services for Ovations

    UnitedHealth Group

  • Kit Cody

    General Manager Web Strategy

    AARP Services Inc.

  • Andy Cohen

    Co-Founder and CEO

    Caring.com

  • Arthur Cresce

    Housing and Household Economic and Statistics Division

    Census Bureau

  • Kierstin DeWest

    CEO, Co-Founder

    Ci

  • Mark Dolliver

    Editor at Large

    Ad Week

  • Matthew J. Doyle

    Director and Senior Researcher, Research & Development, Health Care Products – Worldwide

    The Procter & Gamble Company

  • Peter Drake

    Vice-President, Retirement & Economic Research

    Fidelity Investments Canada

  • Richard Dugas

    CEO

    Pulte Homes, Inc.

  • John Forsyth

    Partner

    McKinsey & Company

  • Nan-Kirsten Forte

    Executive Vice President, Consumer Services

    Web MD

  • Jeffrey Glueck

    Chief Marketing Officer

    Travelocity

  • Kelly Greene

    Staff Reporter

    The Wall Street Journal

  • Arlene Harris

    Founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Strategy Officer

    GreatCall

  • Michael J. Hewitt

    Exercise Physiologist

    Canyon Ranch

  • Nigel Hollis

    Chief Global Analyst

    Millward Brown

Jess Aguirre photo

Jess Aguirre

Senior Vice President, Research

Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movie Channel

Jess Aguirre is Senior Vice President of Research for Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movie Channel.  He oversees all television research activities for the Channels, including audience measurement, advertising research, marketing research and brand analysis.  

He develops support materials and presentations for Hallmark Channel’s annual Upfront presentation, and works closely with the company’s marketing groups to enhance ongoing initiatives that help position the network as an industry leader.  Aguirre also works in tandem with programming to advise on scheduling tactics that help enhance viewer response and engagement and attract viewers during key times of the year such as holidays.

Aguirre began with the network in August 2000 as Vice President, Research.  He worked closely with the head of worldwide marketing to develop and execute the re-branding research that was instrumental in the launch of Hallmark Channel in August 2001.  It is considered one of the most successful cable network launches in history.  Aguirre, who was promoted to Senior Vice President in 2004, manages departments in New York and Los Angeles.

Prior to joining Hallmark Channel, Aguirre was Director, Network Television Research for Warner Bros. Television Productions from 1998-2000.  There he was solely responsible for the management and oversight of the research department.  He assisted the president, program executives and producers in developing, scheduling and promoting new and current primetime WBTV programs on all major cable and broadcast networks.  Aguirre assisted with the development, scheduling and promotion of primetime programs, including “The West Wing,” “Gilmore Girls,” “ER” and “Friends.”

Previously, Aguirre was Associate Director, Primetime Research at the ABC Television  Network.  There  he functioned  as  a  liaison  between  the  New York-based research team and all West Coast entertainment units.  Aguirre also served as Manager, Research and Marketing Services at KCOP Television in Los Angeles.  He began his career at Warner Bros. Domestic Television as Market Research Manager, Domestic Television Syndication.

Aguirre is a member of the Executive Board of Directors for the Media Ratings Council (MRC) and is also a member of the Television Research Committee.  He serves on the Cable Television Association for Marketing (CTAM) Research Committee, and is also a member of the Nielsen Ad Engagement Client Committee.  He is also a member of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (ATAS) and the Hollywood Radio and Television Society (HRTS). 

Jess has a master’s degree in business administration from California State Polytechnic University and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Loyola Marymount University.